Electrically-propelled vehicle.



"0. 529,079. Patented July 12, I899.

mm. mmnzn. ELEGTBICALLY PBOPELLED VEHICLE.

(Appl iution filed Int. 4, 1899.

(In IMIUI.) 4 Sheets$heet l.

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-v Patented lul y l8, I899. B. M. HUNTER. ELEGTBIQALLY PRUPELLEDVEHICLE.

(Application M In. 4, 1899.)

(N0 Index.)

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No. 629,079. Patented July l8, I899.

, R. I. HUNTER.

ELECTRIOALLY PROPELL ED VEHICLE.

(Appliesion fl lod In. t, 1899.)

(I. IOIII.)

4 Sheets-8heot 3,

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No. 629,079; Patents d m l8, I899. n. u. HUNTER. ELEOTBIGALLY PBOPELLEDVEHICLE.

(Application am in. 4, 1000.)

4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

(No Model.)

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-i UNITED STATES PATENT G E-ice.

RUDOLPH M; HUNTER, or PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA;

" ELEGTRl CALLY-PROPELLED VEHlCLi-Z.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent ND. 629,079, dated July 18,189.

Application filed March 4, 1899. Serial No. 707,738. (No model.)

To all whom may concern.- 7

Be it known that LRUDOLPH M. HUNTER,

, of the city and countyof Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented anImprovement in Electrically;l?ropelledVehicles, of which the followingis a specification.

My invention has referencetoelectricallypropelled vehicles; and itconsists of certain improvements set out in the following specificationand shown in the accompanying drawings, which form a part thereof.

This application (Case No. 307) has special reference to pleasurevehicles, such as carriages, and comprises certain features ofconstruction of the body and running-gear.

In the construction of electric carriages much difliculty has beenexperienced in suitably arranging the batteries so as to be convenientlyplaced and at the same time so shielded as not to destroy the generalbeauty of design. In my improvements the body portion of thecarriage isformed with a compartment immediately below the floor and shielded fromview by the extensions of the walls of the bodyportion. The batteriesare supported upon a suitable removable floor or bottom and inserted orremoved as a unit.

The general configuration of the sides and ends may be extendeddownward,so as to pre-'- vent the appearance-to the eye of any existingcompartment. The general proportions of the body are maintained, so thatthe additional space occupied by the batteries is not noticeable. Thegeneral character of the body above may be that of a brougham,hansomcam, Victoria, or open carriage. The compartment for the batteriesmay extend upward at the forward end and thebattery-support madeL-shaped, so as to fit therein and increase the capacity where greaterdistance is to be run with one charge. The rear axle is provided withlarge wheels electricallydriven by separate electric motors, and theforward I and small wheels are the steering-wheels, be-

ingpreferably operated by knuckle-joints and levers. The friction-brakeoperates upon the rear wheels. and is actuated by a rod or bar extendingthrough battery-compartment immediately below the floorof the vehicle.

My improvements will be better understood by reference to thedrawingsfln which Figure 1 is a side elevation of an electric bronghamembodying my improvement-s. Fig'.

2 is a sectional plan view of sam on line 2 2. Fig. 3 is across-sectional elevat through the lower portion of the bodyandlgiigterysup 'port.

cuits, for the motors. Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation of a modificationof my improved brongham. Fig. 7 is an elevation of the battery-supportfor the brougham of Fig. 6. Fig.

Fig. 4 is an inverted planvrew of the battery compartment, support, andcarriage.

Fig-5 is a diagram showing the electric cir-'- Sis a side elevationshowing my improve-- merits applied to'a hansom-cab, and Fig. 9 is asimilar view showing my invent-ion adapted to a Victoria or opencarriage.

In all of the types of carriages here shown the general construction maybe the same so far as myimprovements are concerned, the only variationsbeing in the shape of the up per part of the body. Thus in the Victoriaor open carriage the upper part of the body of the brougham iscut awayand the falling top is substituted, and in the case of the bansom-cabthe operators seat may, if desired, be placed in the rear of the body.It may be placed in the front, if desired, as indicated in dotted lines.

Referring now to the drawings, Figs. 1 to 7, A is the body part and isshaped so as to closely resemble a brougham and is provided with a floorB at a considerable distance above the bottom of the side walls A. r Thespace bounded by these side walls forms acompartment 0, open on thebottom, into which the batteries d are placed. The batteries aresupported upon a frameD, fitting to the bottom of the lowered andremoved The weight of the batteries being large, hydraulic liftingdevices may be employed for this purpose. Any

other suitable manner of .fasteningthe removable battery-support inplace within the compartment may be employed in lieu of that shown, ifso desired.

. .Itrwillbe observed that thedoorsA? are brought down below the floor13 and received 7 V in recesses l),so that they give the appear- 7ance'ofrthcre' being no compartment below the floor. Furthermore, thesides A: below the doorare broughtdown below the support or frame D andcurved to destroy the appearance of a box-compartment and also toprovideguides Eforinsuring the battery prop- V large forward'curve tothe post A and build:

ing of the body forward at A so as to enable the neck F extending downto meet the body, and thereby secure a great deal more space within thecompartment 0 below the floor. Now it willbe observed that by thisconstruction I am enabled to secure a greatly-im.

creasedcapacity of battery-compartment,'and

consequently room to carry the necessary battery without. destroying'thebeauty of 'dea sign. 7 It will also be noticed that thebatterycompartment Oextends forward of the actual floor Biof thepassenger-compartm'ent, and as 7 this gives ample storage-batterycapacity for most cases the interior of thejbody'may be the compartment0 0.

provided with a three-quarter seat, if. so desired, or may have a closetG, if preferred.

.In cases where'long runsare necessary the space above the forward partof the compartment 0 may be made to receive an upward extension of thebattery-support provided with cells. This construction is shown in Fig.6 and the battery-support is shown in Fig. 7. In this case thecompartment within the carriage is made L-shaped, since the lowerhorizontal compartment C has an upward extension 0, and thebattery-support is also made L-shapcd by an extension D upon the forwardend of the main part D. The upper edges of the battery-support arerounded, as at D to more readily guide the support into The uprightcompartment O is immediately in front of the passenger-compartment andmay be said to be built partly therein, since the forward windows andwalls are extended forward. In this manner the top of the compartment 0is within the passenger-compartmentand acts as a table 9. If the uprightpart D of the battery-support is reduced in height, this top of thecompartment may be sufficiently lowered to make it perform the functionof a seat instead of a table. This is evident from an examination ofFig. 9, The'neck F is brought forward and is hollow, as is customary. Itsupports the operators seat f, as usual.

The forward or small wheels II are mounted on stub-axles hinged to theaxle H by knucklejoints h, which are provided with levers connected by alink 11*. This link is moved by bell-crank H operated by a hand steeringlever I, pivoted to the operators platform at 1'. By-throwingtl1e leverforward or backward the wheels H are turned for steering.

the elliptic type.

forwardfrom the platform, andthe rear ends of the springs are connectedto a transverse spring H or,'it' desired, to the rear ends of The axleII is seen red to two springsll of The forward ends of these springs arehinged to rigid arms J, extending be employed for supporting the motor,so as not to transmit unpleasant jarring to the occupants; It alsosecures more flexibility for the motor-support. The motor-shafts areprovided on theoutside with pinions n,which mesh with the internalgearsN, bolted to the spokes of the wheels'K. In this mannerthe motorsare respectively arranged to'drive separate wheels; The motors arearranged between: the axle and the lower part ofthe body A and under theseat portion, so that they are greatly shielded or'hidden from View,

and thereby enhancing the beauty of design. f i V The controller 0- maybe of the series-multipletype and isplaced under. the operators seat andmanipulated by a handle O The circuits 0, Fig. 5,.extend from thebattery to controller through the neck portion. F and thence backthrough the body to the motors. Any additional controlling devices, suchas reversing-switch and cut-out switch, may be employed. The electricbraking-switch is usually embodied in the controller.

P are brake-shoes carried by a lever-frame P and adapted to act upon therear wheels K. This frame P is moved by a bar P ex tending through thebattery-compartment below the floor B, and is operated by a bell-crank Prod P, and foot-lever P A spring P re moves the brake when thefoot-leveris released.

All that hasbeen said with regard to Figs. 1 to 7 equally applies toFig. 9, and hence that figure requires no further explanation.

Referring to Fig. 8, the operators seat may be at the rear, as shown atf in full lines, or in front, as indicated in dotted lines, according topreference. In this case the batterycompartment 0 is under the floorboth on the interior of the body and exterior thereof, and on account ofthe short length of the floor the compartment may, if desired, beextended a short distance backward as well, as clearly shown. I is thesteering-lever and is shown as a rocking shaft on account-of the smallspace available when the seat is at the rear. When,

however, it is at the front, then the steeringlever may be as describedin connection with Fig. 1. In all of these cases the step R is se-(aimed to the outside walls of the battery-compartment immediately belowthe entrance to the floor of the vehicle.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1.- In anelectrical vehicle the combination of a body provided with aseat and floor in front of and at a lower level than the seat, and abattery-compartment built into and as a part of the body portionimmediately below the floor and forward of the seat of the-full width ofthe body, and a removable batterysupport adapted to said compartment.

2. In an electric vehicle the combination of a body provided on theinterior with a'seat and floor and a battery-compartment built into thebody portion immediately below the floor and ofthe full width of thebody and open at the bottom, in combination with a removablebattery-support adapted to fit into the open bottom of thebattery-compartment, and means for holding the said battery-support inposition.

- 3. In an electric vehicle, the combination of a body provided on theinterior with a seat and floor and a battery-compartment built into thebody portion immediately below the floor and of the full-width of thebody and open atthe bottom and also having entrances on each side of thebody directly to the floor and immediatelyin front of the seat, incombination with a removable battery-support adapted to fit into theopen bottom of the battery-compartment, and means for holding the saidbattery-support in position. A

4. In an electric vehicle, the combination of a body provided on theinterior with a seat and floor and a battery-compartment built into thebody portion immediately below the floor and of the full width of thebody and open at the bottom and also having entrances or passage-waysoneach side of the body directly to the floor immediately in front ofthe seat, in combination with a removable battery-support adapted to fitinto the open bottom of the battery-compartment, means for holding thesaid battery-support in position, and doors hinged to the body part toclose the passage-ways to the interior thereof arranged forward of theseat and extending to a point below the floor-line.

5. A body for an electric vehicle consisting of an inclosed upper bodyportion having therein a seat and a floor at a lower level and I inwhich the sides of the body are extended below the floor-level toconstitute a rectangular 6. A body for an electric vehicle consisting ofan inclosed upper body portion having I having a transversely-arrangedfioorat a contherein a seatand a floor immediately in front of the seatand at a lower level and in which the sides of the body are extendedbelow the floor-level to constitute a rectangular batterycompartmentbelow the floor and forward of the seat and of the full width of theupper portion of the body, in combination with a battery-support belowthe floor removably connected withsaid compartment for sustaining thebatteries within the same.

7. A body foran electric vehicle consisting of an inclosed upper bodyportion having therein a seat and a floor and in which the sides of thebody below the floor-line are extended downward to constitute arectangular battery-compartment, a removable bottom or battery-supportfor sustaining the batteries within the said compartment, and lockingdevices for locking the bottom of the support in position.

8. In an electric vehicle, a body portion having an inclosed upper partand provided with a seat and a floor at a consider-able distance abovethe bottom of the body and in which the lower portion of thebody belowthe floor-line is extended downward and forward beyond the floor to forma rectangular battery-compartment of greater area than the area of thefloor, in combination with a removable battery-support of greater areathan the floor to sustain the batteries within the r compartment belowthe floor.

9. In an electric vehicle, a body portion having .an inclosed upper partand provided with a seat and a floor at a considerable 'distance abovethe bottom of the body and in which the lower portion of the body belowthe floor-line is extended downward and forward beyond the floor to.form a rectangular battery-compartment of greater area than the area ofthe floor, in combination with a removable battery, and hinged doors oneach side of the body and in line with the side edges of the hour andbattery-compartment.

10. In an electric vehicle, a body part having a seat at therear, afloor in front of the seat, and an L-shaped battery-compartment arrangedbelow the floor and extending up- Ward at the forward part of the floor,in combination with a battery-support having a forward upward extensionor frameadapted to sustain the batteries in both the compartment belowthe floor and the upper forward compartment'.

11. In an electric vehicle, a body part having a seat at the rear, afloor in front of the seat, and an L-shaped battery-compartment arrangedbelow the floor and extending upward at the forward part of the floor,in combination with a battery-support having a forward upward extensionor frame adapted to sustain the batteries in both the compartment belowthe floor and the upper forward c0m partment, and locking devices forholding said battery-support in place.

12. In an electric vehicle, a body portion siderable-distanceabove itslower edge, a seat arranged to the rear of said floor, a compartmentarranged in front of said floor and opposite the seat, a lowercompartment arranged below the floor and extending beyond the same so asto communicate with the hollow compartment in front of the floor, and aremovable means for supporting the batteries within the said lower andforward compartment.

13. In an electric vehicle, a body part having an offset under the seatat its rear, a battery-compartment below the floor forward of the seat,a hollow curved-neck portion extending forward of the main body andprovided with the operators seat and platform, in combination withdriving-wheels and axles spring connected at the rear of the body,electric-motor devices carried by the axle and adapted to rotate thewheels, steering-wheels of small diameter connected immediately belowthe curved neck and operators platform, steering mechanism arranged onsaid platform immediately above the steering-wheels and connecting withsaid wheels to change their angle, and controlling mechanism for theelectric-motordevices arranged also upon the curved-neck portion andadapted to be operated from the operators seat.

14. In an electric vehicle, a body part having an offset under the seatat its rear, a battery-compartment below the floor forward of the seat,a hollow curved-neck portion extending forward of the main body andprovided with the operators seat and platform, in combination withdriving-wheels and axles spring-connected at the rear of the body,electrio-motor devices carried by the axle and adapted to rotate thewheels, steering-wheels of small diameter connected immediately belowthe curved neck and operators platform, steering mechanism arranged onsaid platform immediately above the steering-wheels and connecting withsaid Wheelsto change their angle, controlling mechanism for theelectric-motor devices arranged also upon the curved-neck portion andadapted to be operated from the operators seat, a friction-brake adaptedto control the rotation of the drivingwheels and connected to the rearpart of the body, a foot-lever for operating the brake arranged on theoperators platform forward of the body, and mechanical connectionsbetween said foot-lever extending through the curved neck and body belowthe floor-level thereof for operating the brake.

15. In an electrically-propelled vehicle, a body part supported upon theaxles by springs and provided with a batter -compartment arranged belowthe floor. thereof, an operators seat arranged forward of the main bodyportion, a pair of large driving-wheels arranged at the rear portion ofthe vehicle, electromotor devices for rotating the said largedriving-wheels partly carried by the axle and partly by thevehicle-body, a pair of steeringwheels of small diameter arrangedimmediately below the operators seat and in front of the main bodyportion, steering devices extending from said steering-wheels to aposition in front of the operators seat, controlling devices for theelectromotor devices arranged adjacent to the operators seat, andelectric circuits including the motor, battery and controlling devicesextending from the forward part of the vehicle-body to the rear thereof.

16. An electric brougham consisting of a closed body portion containinga passengerseat and having its sides extended down below'the floor toform a battery-compartment and also having a forward curved or gooseneck portion of light construction upon which is arranged the operatorsseat and platform, in combination with electrically-propelleddriving-wheels at the rear of the body portion, steering-wheels arrangedin front of the body portion andimmediately below the .operatorsplatform, a controller arranged within the space inclosed by the curvedor goose neck portion and having a handle extending within reach of theoperators seat, and a batteryarranged within the compartment under thefloor of the vehicle, whereby the general construction of the vehicleclosely resembles the modern type of brougham and the operating deviceslargely shielded from View.

In testimony of which invention I have hereunto set my hand.

R. M. HUNTER.

